GREEN BAY — The Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts softball state tournament run continues after a 3-2 comeback win over Wilmot Union High School in a WIAA Division 1 semifinal game.
The Ghosts play next at UW-Green Bay today at 7 p.m. against the winner of the Burlington-Cedarburg quarterfinal.
The Ghosts jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but quickly went down 2-1 when Wilmot scored a pair in the second.
It wasn’t until a big fifth inning that Kaukauna used its get on, get over and get in strategy to score two and retake the lead. That’s all the Ghosts needed, holding on for a 3-2 win.
Kaukauna pitcher Skyler Calmes pitched a complete game, recording 11 strikeouts. Ava VanAsten had two hits with 2 runs batted in.
Calmes opened the game with three strike outs. Kally Meredith then opened scoring on an infield base hit by VanAsten putting the Ghosts up 1-0.
Wilmot took the lead in the bottom of the second on a double by Kimmy Zender. The two-run RBI put Wilmot up 2-1 after two.
In the top of the third, Wilmot had runners on first and second with two outs when catcher Anna LaCount fired a rocket to Taryn Christopher who caught Annika Wenzel leaning.
Christopher then led off the bottom of the third with a stand-up double. Wilmot pitcher Anna Wischnowki walked VanAsten. But Wilmot was able to retire the side stranding two.
Kaukauna retired the side to open the fourth, then a perfectly executed Paige Miller bunt got the offense going for the Ghosts. Miller then advanced to second on a passed ball. From there, the offense sputtered, ending the inning with a 2-1 lead for Wilmot.
Kaukauna’s Christopher led off the Ghosts’ half of the fifth with a single. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Meredith and scored on a standup triple by VanAsten tying the game.
And the rally was on.
A sacrifice fly by Hinkens scored VanAsten, giving the Ghosts their first lead since the first inning at 3-2.
With no outs outs in the bottom of the sixth, Hinkens caught a flyball at short and fired to first for a double play helping Kaukauna get out of the half of the inning without allowing a scored. But once again, the Ghosts left a runner in scoring position to head into the seventh inning with a slim 3-2 lead.
Calmes clamped down on Wilmot in the seventh, sending the Ghosts to the state semifinal Monday night.
.
.
